Drugs and Gangs in Sun Prairie Schools? (Madison, Middleton: 2015, insurance)

[AviationAtom]

I have been told that Sun Prairie schools have a drug and gang problem, is there any truth to this? Is the problem a pretty minor one, much similar to any other schools, and just being sensationalized? Or is there a reasonable problem with drugs and gangs there?

Any input would be appreciated!

[meppermint]

I was actually just coming to post a similar question. We are relocating and I've had two different people tell me Sun Prairie has a crime problem, so was curious what other perspectives on this were. So, I'm not surprised I guess to read this question and will be interested to see the responses.

[Corn-fused]

I am not that familiar with the Sun Prairie area but this might help both of you to give you some idea of what the area is like. It shows statistics, etc. Otherwise, it is just a matter of perspective meaning how much crime is too much and of what kind of crime, etc:
Moderator cut: Link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

[cfbs2691]

I used to recruit for a company located in Sun Prairie.
(We'd recruit for everything from engineers to admins.)
It was a constant struggle to find people who could pass the criminal background checks.
FWIW.

[ranger17]

Madison in general is having more issues and across the city; and some of those can and will flow into neighboring communities. And the way Sun Prairie's growth has exploded over the past few years, concerns are bound to pop up.
If one has specific questions on crime and areas (even specific schools) perhaps try to contact those departments directly from the local pd to the school admin.
As for drugs, that problem is everywhere. Narcotics and overdoses have grown, being in a 'burb does not mean it doesnt exist. And unfortunately where there are drug problems, crime (ie theft) will follow and can go hand in hand.

[HoustonBaylor82]

Several of the smaller towns struggle with narcotics - whether it shows up as a stat or not. It's becoming a fact in rural america lately, unfortunately.

SP schools are way more sought after than Madison's, but are not on par with Middleton, Mt. Horeb, etc. I wouldn't say Sun Prairie has had a huge influx of drugs/crime that's out of step with most of the other areas nearby. Most notable change is that SP has exploded in population over the past decades and thus the quantities of crimes has gone up, but as far as I can tell, the rates have not.

[ranger17]

learned a little background on the narcotics issues when i did a citizens PD academy (very enlightening). It's actually a common problem in the 'burbs which did surprise me.
Many residents and families can have insurance, get pain meds for injuries, etc and that is just one way that can lead to an addiction.... Starts off easy enough but is quick to take the wrong turn. Then all the side effects of those addictions, which can include crime to support their habit, come into play. My point is drugs aren't always tied to the downtrodden or those trying it for recreational use; often an arrest or even overdose can happen to someone the outside world would not suspect it of. Urban and rural, it's a problem.

So in any of our nice little burbs it can be (and possibly is) an issue, SP not to be excluded. And yes that includes the youth.
Add in SP's location right next to Madison's east side, and as noted it's exploding population growth, and it would not surprise me if they too have some concerns. Does not mean I wouldn't consider living in that area; in fact we have close friends who do. No different than other area burbs and Madison itself.

But as with many other locations throughout the states, do some homework on areas to live and be smart when out in one's surroundings.....

[badger74]

The entire area has been severely and negatively impacted by and influx of gangs, poor people, and thugs. Just read the Madison papers regularly. Police chief says it is getting out of control
Madison's police chief will post 'significant' daily crimes on blog - WISC

[badger74]

Homicide at 7-Eleven a 'cold, brutal assassination,' police chief says | Crime | host.madison.com

[GraniteStater]

It was getting way out of control when I left Madison area back in 2015. Something has to change because the status quo sure isn't working at this time.